LEWIS SAVES ABERYSTWYTH AS WELLMEN NEARLY SINK PREM BOYS

HOLYWELL TOWN 0 V ABERYSTWYTH TOWN 0 [AFTER EXTRA TIME]
ABERYSTWYTH WIN 3-2 ON PENALTIES
FAW CUP 4TH ROUND 7 FEB 2015----2.30PM

THE REFEREE MARK PETCH BROTHERS MARK AND LIAM GRAY ALONGSIDE THE HOLYWELL CAPTAIN JOHN LEONARD AND ABER COUNTERPART STEWART JONES

The acrobatics of Mike Lewis in the Aber goal during the 120 minutes of this deadlocked FAW cup tie, and then in the resulting penalty shoot out, saved the premiership side from an exit at the hands of an impressive Holywell Town from the Welsh Alliance.
This game had everything, apart from goals in open play, plucky determination from the 'underdogs', a large crowd, a sending off and some quality saves as an aside to some lovely attacking play from the home side.
Firstly the build up so a relatively well conducted journey to North Wales via Manchester train change and then after a very small wait at Fflint an Arriva bus to Holywell a town that features one of the 'seven wonders of Wales', how close Holywell Town FC got today to making it 8!  Just off the town centre is St Winefride's well which is allegedly on a par with Lourdes in France.  Rather interestingly last weeks game at Oswestry the blog featured a picture of the old station which closed in 1966 exactly the same date as Holywell's former station was shut down.
The town centre is a mixture of old and new and although I did not have much time it did not come across as an attractive proposition this was probably did have something to do with a shiny superstore by you know who which I guess has affected the local shops, there is though a nice sized Wetherspoons if you have a little time to drift away.

HALYKYN RD THE HOME OF HOLYWELL TOWN

The blog wanted to get on down to Halkyn Rd early to take a look around so off we set and superbly we arrived within around 5 minutes from bus station.  The approach road is shared with the local new build community hospital and today with the ground gates wide open the club had decided to take admission monies at the top of the grounds entrance road. 

A GATHERING OF DUG OUTS, TV GANTRY AND A WINDMILL!

A warm greeting from the two officials who I wonder if at this stage knew what a busy afternoon they were going to be in for as 636 people it was later announced had flocked into see the game.  Handily I was advised programmes were on sale in the bar area today and off I ventured to locate a few.
The ground tour found a stadium with a spacious perimeter all around if any future development is needed with hard standing all around, three sides are uncovered with the side opposite the main stand featuring narrow Perspex dug outs including a mini one for the officials.  S4C's football programme Sgorio had been along in the week to install a scaffolding TV gantry positioned directly behind the dug outs.  So the buildings are all down the one side and it has to be said behind the stand is a very ample car park which is probably normally very sufficient but today soon filled up as the crowd kept coming in. 

GET OUT THE WELSH FLAG

On the right hand side as you enter the ground the first building is the bar which was already doing a brisk trade and then the covered stand with wooden bench seats there is a break for a mini tunnel which featured, a credit to the club, clean toilets.  Moving past the players entrance some permanent solid set seats were in place along side a further covered terrace offering a raised view of the proceedings.  Also within the main stand area is the public address system and The Wellmans Retreat which was operated by a pleasant couple of ladies serving teas and confectionery with food available in the bar.

 ABERYSTWYTH'S MANAGER IAN HUGHES

Today it was once again superb to see a club with a steady base of fans delighted to be welcoming so many visitors from their own town and surrounding area to 'their' club and having a real pride in their set up, it is to be hoped that they will continue to re visit with Holywell riding high and looking all set for promotion to The Cymru Alliance why wouldn't you?
The day was once again made a credit by the club officials and supporters at Halkyn Road who were a friendly and talkative bunch who were not only proud of their club but very welcoming.  I would like to add to this Steve Roberts the club secretary who I made an initial enquiry to late on Thursday in relation to the game being affected by the weather.  Well he returned my email efficiently with a friendly chatty nature that made me determined to make the visit it was nice to meet him before the game and he even found time to inform me later that evening of the official attendance.  Cheers Steve I hope you and your club enjoyed the day.

STEVE ROBERTS HOLYWELLS SECRETARY, ANOTHER BUSY GAME

Some clubs struggle to make this sort of effort but hopefully the clubs that do get the positives out of their efforts.
Before the game I caught up with fellow hopper Tony who was over from Crewe after a stop in Chester he had travelled on the same bus to the game and we as all hoppers do got taking of grounds and games attended.  Always an interest to here other peoples tales, cheers mate!

Todays match officials were interesting in that the two assistants were brothers in Mark and Liam Gray who are from a family of referees, following their dad and granddad.  The man in the middle, Mark Petch, today is turned out in old style black today more traditional than when I saw him last week officiate in tangerine at TNS.
My attempt to learn some Welsh over the last month or so was superbly aided by the bi lingual PA system and then have my 1-10 learned numbers well pronounced by said PA man for the team line ups.  I've just got to learn the other 30,000 words!
With Holywell Town unbeaten so far this season and the visitors Aberystwyth Town sitting proudly at the top of the Welsh Premier League we were looking forward to an intriguing game but after the first 10 minutes I was a little concerned for the home side as Aber started at a pace and The Wellmen seemed a little of the pace.  Not for long though as they forced their way into the game.

The game saw an early booking for prolific Aber front man Chris Venables who seemed to be on a constant moan at everything and his dissent finally saw referee Petch loose patience and issue a yellow card.  Notably as the game went on the Aberystwyth bench became more noisy screaming for every decision but maybe they were getting concerned at Holywells increasing confidence and feared an exit.

CHRIS VENABLES ABERS PROLIFIC SCORER

Both teams so action to the edge of their opponents box the meaningful shot was for the home side when Tony Roebuck saw his effort well saved by Mike Lewis.  So we arrived goal less at half time in the second half Phil Lloyd saw Lewis pull of a good save from his effort and it was Lewis again who went full length to deny Paul Williams any glory for the home side.  The game certainly opened up with the visitors reduced to ten men in the second half when Stephen Williams was sent off for a second caution following a foul on Matty Harvey which could easily have seen referee Petch show a straight red. 

SECOND YELLOW WITH RED TO FOLLOW FOR STEPHEN WILLIAMS

Extra time was called for and in the first period home stopper Mike Platt pulled off a wonder save from Mark Jones at very close range, this was probably the visitors clearest chance so far.
In the second period of extra time Kellaway scraped the cross bar with a lob before Holywell piled on the pressure in a do or die finish which in one move saw Lewis stretch to gather an aerial ball only to lose it in the six yard box and with Holywell's attack ready to pounce the ball agonisingly ran free.

TIME TO RE COUP SOME ENRGY AND STOP THE CRAMP

So with 120 minutes up the home sides tag line 'refuse to lose' was achieved in open play but in the lottery of penalties it was not to be with star man Lewis saving three of The Wellmens penalties against some quality strikes from the Premiership visitors who finally overcame the superb Holywell effort.

ITS GETTING TENSE IN THE CROWD

This had been a herculean effort from Holywell who for most of the game had kept Aberystwyth quiet and on another day better finishing and possible first half penalty would have provided a shock to match their semi final place last year.  Overall though this was a superb day for the club, its fans and officials and hopefully they will return to Halkyn Road regularly to sample the football and friendliness of this club.

MORE ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE
HOLYWELL MANAGER JOHN HASELDIN FOR HIS TEAM

With a finish just after ten past five secured it was a mad dash to the local bus station and time to wave cheerio to a superb visit departing on the superbly lettered 11G back to Flint with time to visit the big 'M' for some tucker before leaving North Wales behind for a lengthy journey back home.
The other memorable feature today was following a close and competitive cup tie to see crowds of people flooding back into the surrounding streets and town it must have made it all the more worthwhile for the hardworking club officials.
Once again the blog had a good time in Wales and I would recommend a visit to Holywell with the addition of a good match day programme its makes the visit a must for all travelling footie fans.


NORMALY THE TRAIN STATION IS THE LAST PICTURE
THIS TIME ITS THE BUS STATION